Astragalus cimae
Cima milkvetch
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus cimae (Cima milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by fleshy hairless habit, red-purple flowers with pale tips.
Cima milkvetch is a California native perennial herb found in desert regions at elevations of unspecified height. Flowering from an unspecified period, this plant produces red-purple flowers with white or pale tips, with banner petals 12 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with spreading stems 2 to 25 centimeters tall, it has a somewhat coarse and fleshy structure. Its leaves are 4.5 to 11 centimeters long, composed of 11 to 23 leaflets that are obovate to nearly round, with obtuse or notched tips. The fruit develops in an ascending to spreading orientation with an oblong body and a stalk-like base 5 to 12 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species; fleshy hairless habit, red-purple flowers with pale tips
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo
How to tell it apart
vs Vicia: Astragalus has racemes of flowers; vetches (Vicia) have tendrils at leaf tips and climbing or sprawling habit.; vs Oxytropis: Astragalus keel tip is rounded to slightly pointed; Oxytropis keel has a pronounced pointed beak.; vs Cleomella: Astragalus has pea-shaped flowers; Cleomella has 4-petaled cruciform flowers with long stamens.; vs Lupinus: Astragalus has pinnate compound leaves; lupines have palmate leaves (leaflets radiating from one point).; vs Dalea: Astragalus has typical pea flowers; Dalea has tiny flowers with petals attached to the stamen tube.
Frequently asked questions
Is Astragalus cimae native to California?
Yes. Astragalus cimae is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Astragalus cimae grow?
Astragalus cimae occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo.
What plant family does Astragalus cimae belong to?
Astragalus cimae is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.